Brownie Hearts

Aubree and I got up early this morning to make this "sweet treat" for her 2nd grade class's Valentine's Day party. We whipped up the brownies, sprinkled them with red and pink sparkly sugar crystals, baked them, then cut out 30 hearts with a cookie cutter. She was excited to bring them to share with her class.

This is actually the same recipe I used to make with my mom when I was in 2nd grade! It is just a simple and basic recipe that is easy to make with kids. What great food and family traditions! I bagged up the left over brownie scraps and put them in the freezer. I will save it for a future icecream pie crust, a sundae topping, or a brownie-bits banana milk shake.

Grandma Lela's Easy Breeze Brownies

1/4 c butter

2 eggs

1 C sugar

1/2 C flour

1/3 C cocoa

1 tsp vanilla

pinch of salt

Melt butter is square pan brownies are to be made in, and then pour in bowl over beaten eggs. Add other ingredients, stir well, blend 2 minutes and pour into pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Note: For the cutouts, one "doubled" recipe fits nicely in a jelly-roll pan or edged cookie sheet.

Mini Caramel Apples

I brought these Mini-Caramel Apples to Aubree's Fall Class Party today. She requested caramel apples but I thought it would be too much for the kids to each have a whole apple. I came across a similar idea to this one, online, and decided that they would be perfect. Now I am not usually the type to make "cute" food (and these had that cute appeal), but I love caramel apples and couldn't pass this up.



1 bag caramel squares
1 Tbs water
apples
succor sticks
melon baller

To make the small apples, use a melon baller. Make sure that each "mini apple" has skin on one side, this is the side with which you will insert the succor stick. Dip the mini apples in melted caramel, and place them on a sprinkle or sugar covered plate (so that they don't stick). Immidiately place them in the refridgerator until set.

Note: These do not hold well. It is best to make them shortly before eating them. The juices from the skinless part of the apple will begin to seep out and make an apple-caramel syrup. It is actually kind of yummy if you get a chance to taste it, but it's not very pretty. Choose an apple variety that is not very juicy, and pat the apple pieces dry before covering with caramel.

If you have a fruit juicer, process the left-over apple scraps through the juicer and enjoy some fresh apple juice!